Group says escape of 15 prisoners was the fault of two guerillas

Below:

Next story in Americas

BOGOTA, Colombia — Colombian rebels on Friday blamed two guerrillas who were guarding hostages for the success of a rescue mission by the military that freed three U.S. defense contractors, a former presidential candidate and 11 others.

The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, Latin America’s last remaining major rebel army, said “the escape of the 15 prisoners of war” on July 2 “was a direct consequence of the despicable conduct of Cesar and Enrique, who betrayed their revolutionary commitment.”

Military intelligence agents freed 15 rebel-held hostages — including French-Colombian politician Ingrid Betancourt — by posing as aid workers on a mock humanitarian mission that rebels were told would ferry their hostages by helicopter to another camp for talks on a prisoner swap.

The two also face charges of hostage-taking and terrorism. The United States is seeking their extradition.

The FARC also announced Friday that it continues to pursue an agreement to swap hostages for imprisoned rebels “independent of whatever political or military confrontation where there are victories and reversals.”

Colombia’s government says the FARC still holds about 700 hostages for political leverage and ransom. Rebels had offered to swap 25 high-value captives for imprisoned guerrillas, but the July 2 rescue robbed them of their top bargaining chips.

“The FARC maintain a willingness to reach a humanitarian accord,” he said. “It looks like the FARC will not retaliate against those who are still kidnapped. ... In today’s statement, the FARC do not say anything about reprisals against the kidnapped.”

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.